Waste Management Overview
Waste management is an important aspect of any business because the improper disposal of waste can lead to health hazards, environmental pollution and a faster depletion of resources. Waste management is the process of collecting, classifying, processing, transporting and disposal of waste. It can be a complex process, but it is important because improper disposal of waste can lead to health hazards, environmental pollution, and depletion of resources. There are many ways to properly manage waste. Some tips for good waste management practices include:
- Reducing the amount of waste you produce.
- Reusing or recycling materials whenever possible.
- Composting organic waste.
- Properly disposing of any hazardous waste.
- Training staff about waste management.
Having good waste management procedures in place helps protect the environment, human health and conserve our natural resources.
What is Waste?
Waste can be described as any material generated that does not have any further use and requires treatment, removal and/or disposal. Waste can be generated from several potential sources and has the potential to pollute the environment if not managed appropriately. A waste management hierarchy requires that waste products be managed with a priority of avoidance, reduction, recycling and disposal.
Types of waste include:
General waste refers to any material free of any apparent or actual pathological/infectious, radioactive or hazardous chemical contamination. Examples of general waste includes cloth, plastic and styrofoam.
Hazardous waste refers to discarded material, which due to its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may:
- Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored or disposed of, or otherwise mismanaged.
- Cause or contribute to an increase in mortality, or an increase in irreversible or incapacitating illness e.g. biological waste.
Petroleum-based products refers to chemical waste products that have been made from crude oil or its derivatives. These include all oils, greases, organic cleaning solvents or solutions.
Prescribed industrial waste refers to hazardous wastes and wastes that can affect amenity (e.g. odor), generated by industry and listed in relevant legislation (e.g. Prescribed Waste Regulations).
Recyclable waste refers to any discarded material which can be reprocessed for re-use. Recyclable items include paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, scrap metal and recyclable plastic.
Regulated waste refers to wastes that are non-domestic waste generated on-site, as defined by an environmental protection regulation. These wastes must be handled by a registered waste transporter and require disposal at an appropriately licensed facility.
Waste Separation Methods
You should not put all your waste into one bin and hope for the best. For proper management planning your waste you need to separate it into categories of waste streams. This involves separating the different types of waste so that they can be recycled or disposed of properly. It is important to do this correctly so that recyclable materials are not sent to landfills and so that hazardous materials are not mixed with regular waste. There are various ways to separate waste, but the most common method is to use different containers (or bins) for different types of waste.
Appropriate waste collection containers relevant to the types of wastes generated must be made available for use. All waste materials must be efficiently contained and when containers are full (or near full) they must be emptied without delay. All waste material removed from a workplace must be disposed of in an approved manner that is consistent with local and state legislative requirements.
Waste Avoidance
Waste avoidance means reducing the amount of waste you create in the first place. Where possible, the purchase of materials and products should target those that generate less waste and/or materials that can be recycled. Here are some tips to help you get started.
- Avoid buying disposables. Disposable products, like paper plates and plastic utensils, create a lot of solid waste. Whenever possible, use reusable plates, cups, and silverware instead.
- Compost, as composting is a great way to reduce food waste. kitchen scraps and yard waste can be turned into nutrient-rich soil for your garden.
- Reduce consumption, may not always be easy to do however, this can be done by buying only what you need and avoiding impulse purchases.
- Bring your own reusable bags and containers when shopping.
- Repair broken items instead of throwing them away and buying new ones.
- Reuse items instead of discarding them. For example, using a reusable water bottle instead of buying disposable water bottles.
By following these tips, you can make a significant impact in reducing the amount of waste produced. Not only will this help the environment but, it can also save money. The procedure can also compliment an ISO 14001 2015 environmental management system (EMS) as this standard requires waste to be managed with all products and services, to increase environmental performance and continual improvement efforts.
Contents of this ISO 14001 Waste Management Procedure
- Approval.
- Purpose and Scope.
- Terms and Definitions.
- Roles and Responsibilities.
- Procedures and Guidelines.
- Waste Management.
- Waste Avoidance.
- Waste Reduction.
- Waste Recycling Program.
- Waste Manifest.
- Waste Life Cycle Disposal.
- Disposal Methods.
- Disposal of Petroleum-Based Products.
- Waste Discharges to the Environment.
- Transport of Waste.
- Environmental Impacts and Internal Audits.
- Incidents and Emergencies.
- Related Procedures, Forms and Documents.
- Review Criteria.
- Record Management.
- References.
Note: The dumping of waste and chemical spills (particularly hazardous wastes) in public places or stormwater drains constitutes an offense and any company responsible may be liable to pay for the clean-up costs.
Why Choose to Buy this ISO 14001 Waste Management Procedure
This 14-page ISO 14001 waste management procedure template can assist you to define a strategy to safely reduce and manage wastes within the control of your business. The procedure details the objectives and processes to enable your organization to safely manage waste, whilst enabling operational needs to be met. The procedure can be applied to the processes by which waste is managed, transported and disposed of. The procedure outlines how to minimize the impact on environmental health and protect the health and safety of personnel and others who may be exposed to hazardous waste.
After purchasing this template you will be able to:
- Very easily edit and customize the template to create your own procedure.
- Apply your own style, format and brand to the procedure.
- Use it in any industry or sector regardless of size or type of organization.
Availability and Use of this ISO 14001 Waste Management Procedure
- This procedure is accessible to you right now by clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button.
- The procedure will be delivered to you in fully editable Microsoft Word format for immediate and full use in your business.
- There are no subscriptions, contracts or ongoing costs.
